“Apocalypse PA,” the History Channel show that features a Nazareth man who desires a self-sufficient lifestyle, premiered Tuesday, and if the two episodes represent what the show would be, it looks far more like Discovery Channel’s MythBusters than a militia in the making.

The two episodes detailing the life of Frank Belcastro — which are essentially a pilot; executive producer Steve Rotfeld of The WorkShop in Bryn Mawr said if the show tests well it could become a series – focused far more on contraptions Belcastro built.

That’s fine – him converting a truck to run on burning wood or horse dung or building a still were pretty cool. I’d watch another episode.

But the whole “survivalist” theme of the show seemed overdone. From the show’s title to its depiction of the Belcastros’ as living in a secluded area to its frequent interjected explanations, it seemed to strain to add the apocalypse theme to the story of a guy who simply likes to tinker – and maybe yearns for simpler days.

“My dad is almost like a modern-day Ben Franklin,” Belcastro’s son, Adam, said in the first episode. “He’s always working on something and kind of scheming to come up with these new ideas. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.”

That seems a pretty true characterization of Belcastro, and to me would be a good enough premise for a show — him building and trying stuff out — without the “apocalypse” mumbo-jumbo. Like the bicycle-powered microwave it showed at the start of the show.

But in the voiceover introduction, Belcastro says, “My name is Frank and I’m not crazy. I know the world’s not ending anytime soon. But just in case, I want to be ready.

“Back in the day, our grandparents and great grandparents — I mean, they knew how to take care of themselves. Nowadays, it seems everybody depends on somebody else. So my family is declaring a new independence day. We are going to learn to fend for ourselves — whether we like it or not.”

Despite being set in rural Nazareth, the show gave little indication of its locale – introduced as “somewhere in Pennsylvania” and showing no areas of town or anything that would let watchers know where the Belcastros live [are you listening, Gosselins?]

The only local reference was Dixon’s Muzzleloading shop in Kempton, where Belcastro goes with Adam in the second episode to get a gun. It names the shop, but doesn’t say it’s in Kempton.

Plus, the Belcastros have what appears to be a pretty nice spread of land, meaning the show can be shot without landmarks.

But that also plays into the show’s disingenuousness. It never tells you the reason Belcastro has such a big spread is because he runs a construction business that has worked on TV shows such as “Trading Spaces.” With no information, the viewer is left to believe his family is some self-sufficient enclave way out in the wilds of PA.

And there were some very obvious set-up scenes: For example goats the family buys for milk [“in case there’s a milk shortage”] somehow get in the house.

Ha! I’ll be darned. How did that happen? And the cameras were right there!

The goats do urinate and defecate in the house.

Beyond that, the show is pretty interesting because of the contraptions. The wood/manure-powered truck scenes include a lot of sanding and grinding and welding.

The cool thing is that they actually get the truck to run on burning wood – and manure from the goats [“we’ll dry it in the oven,” Belcastro tells his gagging wife, Kim] and horses that Adam scoops up from the yard.

They also learn to milk the goat and drink it around the table [daughter Emma, 24, notes there’s hair in the milk]. Emma falls in love with the goats as her dad talks about all the ways you can eat goat meat.

In the second episode, they build a still [saying, uh, alcohol can be used to barter if the economy collapses], using a lawn mower to grind corn for mash. Adam drinks the final product for his 21st birthday. Much is made about whether making moonshine whiskey is legal [the question is not resolved on the show; but “technically, probably not,” Belcastro says].

And they visit the gun shop, prompting them to also mix their own gunpowder [from chemicals they happen to have around the house, I guess] and create their own bullets in a lead mold. Then they fire the gun, and a pretty cool mini-cannon that Belcastro builds.

That leads to yet another unnecessary “apocalypse” reference.

“It’s a hard enough taking an animal’s life for food,” Belcastro says. “I would hate to find myself in a situation where I had to take another human being’s life. But if we found ourselves in a true refugee situation where it was a choice between them or me and my family — better them than us.”

Adam says, “to be self-sufficient is liberating. I feel empowered. I feel like a man.”

For me, I’d say that if “Apocalypse PA” becomes a series, keep inventions, lose the indoctrination.

Current Comments

I happened across Apocalypse PA last night and found the show absolutely fascinating! The truck running on wood smoke was especially interesting.
I've recently written a novel titled "Devastation" (as yet unpublished) that presents just the scenario Frank describes, the country suffers damage from an odd 'storm' and things such as food, ammunition, guns etc are in short supply, forcing the characters to provide for their own needs. If interested, you can see more on my website. I'd love to send Frank an electronic copy for his reading!
I wish I'd seen some of Frank's ideas before writing!

I agree that Frank is like a modern day Franklin. He's smart, likable and his inventions are, well, inventive. His childlike enjoyment in tinkering is infectious and when there's a mishap, the results are funny. I also love that Kim (his wife) and Emma (his daughter) are the foils to Frank and Adam's (his son) adventures. All in all, I fid the show to be enjoyable and informative. I look forward to seeing more from Frank and his clan!

Posted By: Art | Nov 17, 2010 3:18:30 PM

I too stumbled across this show on the history channel. I thought it was incredibly interesting and the cast is so funny and likeable! I cant wait to see more!

Posted By: Pete Nabel | Nov 17, 2010 3:47:38 PM

I loved it too.. the so called "indoctrination" wasnt bad at all, at least not as bad as all the political "I approve this message" commercials we just witnessed the last month

Posted By: Old Guy Too | Nov 17, 2010 3:54:55 PM

Yep rural Pennsylvania. Rural Nazareth, Northunberland County is a bedroom community for New York City, and parts of Northern New Jersey. While the population of Nazareth is estimated for 2009 at 6023, the Rural Landscape seen on screen are in a county that has 286 housing units per square mile. The real “Apocalypse PA” is in the centre of the Commonwealth,west of the Susquehanna River. Duck and hide.

Posted By: Observer | Nov 17, 2010 4:19:41 PM

A bunch of foulmouthed....

Posted By: John Dow | Nov 17, 2010 4:53:24 PM

Information & entertaining (funny). First reality show I've consider to be worth watching.

Posted By: AMM | Nov 17, 2010 10:35:22 PM

I, too, stumbled upon this show, I must say I liked it! Sure, alot of it was staged, but, the concept was great! I feel I could live with the end of the world senario or Katrina disaster. I find it funny that the whole ingredients of gunpowder wasn't given and nobody brought up the percussion caps needed for the pistol. My mother and her family got along in Europe during WW2 with a wood burning car! TJ

Posted By: toddjlyons | Nov 17, 2010 10:56:04 PM

BTW - If I had to depend on myself for everything I would definitely want to be able to make alcohol ... not to drink or use as currency but to use a DISINFECTANT or CLEANER ... antibiotics and bleach might be pretty hard to come by!

Posted By: Anne | Nov 18, 2010 2:25:56 PM

did mr potato head not realize that if "the sh#t hits the fan his son is still going to need caps for that black powder colt!!!! only a flintlock doesn't need a manufactured ignition source.... what a dip!!!!

Posted By: jim | Nov 18, 2010 11:15:30 PM

NOT BEING A FAN OF REALITY SHOWS, I WAS CAPTIVATED BY SOMETHING ACTUALLY USEFUL AND INFORMATIVE.
IT WILL BE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY IN THE EVENT OF A WORLDWIDE DISASTER TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT. PLEASE TEACH US MORE, FRANK.

Posted By: lINDA | Nov 18, 2010 11:49:41 PM

The first two episodes were mildly entertaining when there was nothing else worth watching, however, nothing shown on the show is anywhere near the result of original thought as is suggested. Everything shown was discussed in hundreds of survivalist and other books from the 1970s until the present, and in most cases, it is presented in a much better and more useful manner. A further complaint is the claim that the things presented lead back to a simpler time without economic interdependencies. First, there hasn’t been such a time since about the Renaissance in Europe, and this country’s founding and early years certainly did not include the idea of economic independence (without imported British manufactured goods there would never have been colonies or a United States). Second, contrary to claims, everything created includes a lot of manufactured items. Nothing shown could have been created without the manufacturing economy the show implies can be dispensed with. Finally, it is scary to think that uninformed viewers might go out and attempt to duplicate what is shown. Safety is never mentioned, and apparently never considered. Some of the contraptions shown are seriously dangerous and there is never a mention or warning. Overall, the show is entertaining, as long as no one takes it seriously.

Posted By: David | Nov 19, 2010 12:08:22 AM

I too stumbled upon this show. Interesting and entertaining, laughed a lot, the mans poor long suffering wife! Can't wait to see more.

Posted By: SJR | Nov 19, 2010 12:11:40 AM

I like the show! I think The father is a smart and funny guy and the show is even more entertaining because of his poor wife who has to suffer through his inventions. People have to remember, this is "reality television" or "fauxality", not real reality. I enjoy the show for what it is, entertainment, with some history and science thrown in.

Posted By: Jared | Nov 19, 2010 10:46:22 AM

Great show! only needs to clean up language a bit.

Posted By: nancy | Nov 19, 2010 12:24:25 PM

With the present administration apocalypse may be applicable. I loved the show and laughed all night

Posted By: RBDC | Nov 19, 2010 12:24:40 PM

i saw the show about the still the other day and watched the show about the truck last night i look forward to more episodes i hope it becomes a series although i think we could do without all the "bleeps" and i think more info on exactly how the assembled the gasifier for the truck and the still would be nice i find it very entertaining

Posted By: Joseph | Nov 19, 2010 12:53:30 PM

I stumbled upon it and it was nice to see someone who is interested in history and simpler times I enjoyed the show and look forward to more episodes

Posted By: Nick | Nov 19, 2010 5:54:39 PM

Plenty of necessary information was left out of every scene, and I have no doubt it was on purpose. From the essential make up of how to convert a gas powered engine to run on another fuel source without being a CO hazard, to the fact that distilling alcohol IS illegal (and a federal offense-the ATF will shut you down, fast), to the fine specifics of reloading or firearms safety...these things are glossed over with Frank's enthusiasm and exuberance as he tackles the next set of problems. In some ways, he's not any worse than the guys on Mythbusters, but one does worry that a "monkey see-monkey do" audience will be out in their back yards trying to duplicate these feats and ending up in the ER with chopped off fingers and blown off faces the first time they try. I believe the term for that is called "social darwinism", so I'm less than concerned (unless it happens to be the ER where I'm covering a shift). Other than that, Frank is surely right about one thing; the fast majority of the people in this country can't care for themselves the way our grandparents could. Heck, most can't change their own oil or fix basic plumbing, much less obtain critical supplies, raise essential crops or even manage a decent garden, repair a roof, set in a new window, recognize the smell of an electrical fire and know how to properly repsond if there are no emergency crews to come, manage minor to moderate injuries at home, care for, butcher properly, store, and then cook their own meat-and it makes me wonder how we un-learned these skills in 50 short years.

Posted By: Steph-honey | Nov 20, 2010 1:00:08 PM

"Lose the indoctrination"...INDEED!

Not to say that there aren't differences of opinion on "survival shows", but...the LESS people paying attention to the "old ways" or "preparedness" the better it gets for those who DO, if it ever boils down to that....

Posted By: RevLouM | Nov 21, 2010 3:17:22 PM

Boy you could literally go off in a hundred directions with comments on this. I've done tinkered my way through life enough to put a smirk on my face now. I'll survive when and if it comes down to it but it's not as simple as this show makes it seem. Making Black Powder is almost an art. Very difficult for the correct mixtures and very dangerous. That's why we use - Gun powder instead today. BTW - did i see a little aluminum powder in that mixture - making it FLASH powder? Oh never mind;) Anyway - what are you doing for primers?? Better go Flint lock style guns since once your out of primers - your done... and you don't want to try making them. That cannon - damn better be glad it didn't burst in your kisser too. What was the metal and burst strengths of the casing? It's scary... The alcohol - been there and it tastes... well horrible! Filter through that charcoal you made in very fine cloth or filter paper. OK... fine mesh pantyhose;) Not gonna comment on the truck show as I haven't seen it yet. Should be interesting. But for some food for thought, this entire country is wired for electricity, powered by oil and more. How about looking into ways to make your own electricity- wind or lister (or old hit-n-miss) engine running a generator say on biodiesel or waste veggie oil? Waste from bio-diesel production makes soap;) Electricity can run your well pump, tools, etc. Rebuild on old but trust worthy lathe or milling machine - you will need tools for sure. Waste oil also can provide heat for your home or shop. So many places to look and ponder in a series like this. Just use your heads smartly guys and think about what the viewers are watching you do. Show them some blacksmith techniques, making of wool thread, fire starting techniques, get the family more involved. This is survival!! Good luck with the show;))

Posted By: Eric | Nov 22, 2010 8:11:16 AM

Fantastic show. This could be used to build a huge on line following that dives deeper into the design specifics of each technology.

Posted By: Loren | Nov 22, 2010 12:45:58 PM

"Yep rural Pennsylvania. Rural Nazareth, Northunberland County is a bedroom community for New York City, and parts of Northern New Jersey... The real “Apocalypse PA” is in the centre of the Commonwealth,west of the Susquehanna River."

Besides, Northumberland County is *east* of the Susquehanna, not west.

So is Nazareth. it's down by Allentown, on the PA/NJ border.

But I do know some people in Northumberland County who do this kind of stuff. Mostly farmers, who are pretty self-sufficient to start with.

Posted By: Tim Lesher | Nov 22, 2010 1:11:08 PM

Awesome show!! Made me laugh and I even learned something. Keep them coming!

Posted By: Mike | Nov 22, 2010 2:10:22 PM

I truly cannot believe they would sit around enjoying a nice glass of fresh goat milk...WITHOUT FILTERING it. YUCK! It took me 30 seconds to find all the info you could possibly need on goats and their milk. I would think a little research would be in order before you take on the responsibility of handing out any food to your family. I have serious doubts about this wife's ability to think for herself. She seems to stand around with her head in her hands, moaning about this guy who just might be the one folks would look up to in a crisis. Hopefully, there would never be a need, but someone wake that pampered gal up and get her butt in gear. This is your family too. Do some damned research. If you find it hard to remember what to do and how to do it, write it down. But don't let your family drink unfiltered anything and act like it is all out of your control. I truly have no respect for any woman who can't stand on her own two darn feet.